Combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser



R. D. DUNCAN 3,391,980

COMBINATION 'IOOIHBHUSH AND DENTIF'RICE DISPENSER July 9, 1968 Filed Feb. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. RONALD D. DUNCAN FIGS FIG!

mm mm A TTORNE Y8 United States Patent 3,391,980 COMBINATION TOOTHBRUSH AND' a DENTIFRICE DISPENSER Ronald D. Duncan, 129 Duval Drive, Winston Manor,

South San- Francisco, Calif. 94080 Filed Feb. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 524,889

11 Claims. (Cl. 401-153) This invention relates to a toothbrushing device and,

more particularly, to an assembly having a self-contained source of dentifrice coupled to a toothbrush.

In a preferred form, the invention comprises a toothbrush whose stem is removably mounted on one end of a dentifrice-containing cartridge. A dentifrice dispenser is shiftably mounted on the toothbrush in fluid coupled relationship with the cartridge and is movable into and out of a position adjacent to the bristles so that dentifrice may be controllably delivered from the cartridge to the bristle by way of the dispenser. To simplify the delivery of the dentifrice, the stem is tubular and the dispenser is rotatably mounted thereon in fluid communication with the passage therethrough. The dispenser itself is L-shaped so that it can clear the bristles as it rotates out of its dentifrice-dispensing position and can be nested or stored within a recess on the backside of the toothbrush. Moreover, a tube extending through the passage of the stem may interconnect the dispenser and the cartridge so that the dispenser will rotate into and out of the aforesaid position when the cartridge is rotated relative to the toothbrush. In its nested disposition, the dispenser will not interfere with the brushing of the teeth and will permit the toothbrush itself, when removed from the cartridge, to be easily and effectively hung on a rack or otherwise placed in a fixed location for subsequent use.

Since the stem is removably mounted on the cartridge, the latter may define the common dentifrice source for a number of toothbrushes. In this way, a family of several persons could be provide-d with only a single cartridge which could be used with the individual toothbrush of each member of the family. Although it is envisioned that the cartridge be commercially available and disposable after depletion of its supply of dentifrice, the cartridge could conceivably be refilled again and again so that it would continue to be usable even though the toothbrushes themselves would require replacement because of wear.

Since the present invention eliminates the need for a conventional dentifrice container separate from the toothbrush itself, it eliminates the unnecessary waste of dentifrice which is commonly associated with the conventional containers and obviates the problems which arise due to the handling of the container itself such as the problem of squeezing toothpaste from a tube. Moreover, the amount of dentifrice dispensed onto the toothbrush bristles may be controlled and observed so that there is substantially no waste of dentifrice. Also substantially all of the dentifrice delivered by the dispenser is properly placed on the tooth brush bristles because of the relative close proximity of the dispenser to the bristles and because the dispenser, upon being returned to its nested location, cleanly separates from the dentifrice deposited on the bristles.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide a dentifrice source as a part of a toothbrush unit, but these have been generally unsatisfactory due to the complicated nature of their construction or because they interfere with normal toothbrushing procedures. The device of this invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing a simplified construction which maintains all dispensing parts out of the way during the brushing step.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to rovide a combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser which is relatively simple and rugged in construction, has a minimum number of parts and can be readily used by assissa Patented July 9, 1968 children as well as adults so as to eliminate the wellknown problems encountered in dispensing dentifrice from conventional containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination toothbrush and dispenser of the type described wherein the toothbrush portion is removably mounted on the cartridge so that the latter may define a common dentifrice source for a number of such toothbrush portions and thereby render the invention especially suitable for family use where each member of the family has an individual toothbrush portion attachable to the cartridge.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the combined toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser of this invention partly broken away and in section to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cap which connects the dispenser to the dentifrice cartridge;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of one end of the cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one end of the plunger which receives the end of the cartridge shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the toothbrush showing the dispenser in a position for apply ing dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the dispenser in a stored condition within a recess 0n the side of the toothbrush opposite to the side having the bristles; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the brush illustrating the way in which the cap of FIG. 2 is coupled thereto.

A preferred form of the combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser device is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a toothbrush unit 12 mounted at one end of a dentifrice source 14. A dentifrice dispenser 16 is mounted on unit 12 for movement into and out of registry with the bristles 18 on the head 24} forming a part of unit 12. Device it is thereby a self-contained assembly which can be used for brushing teeth notwithstanding the presence of dispenser 16 on unit 1'2. As will hereinafter be described, dispenser 16 is movable to a stored position in an out-of-the-way place so that it will not interfere with the toothbrushing operation itself.

Unit 12 includes a tubular stem 22 having a central passage 24- therethrough which terminates at a region 26 defined by the end surfaces 28 and 3% on head 20 and stem 22, respectively. Head 2i) is integral with or otherwise secured to stem 22, such an interconnection being shown adjacent to region 26 in FIG. 1.

Dispenser 16 comprises an L-shaped, tubular element 32 having a pair of ports 34 (only one of which is shown) in the side thereof for directing dentifrice onto bristles 18. Element 32 extends into region 26 and is connected to one end of a tube 36 which extends through passage 34 and is rotatable with respect thereto. Surfaces 28 and 30 are configured to permit tube 36 and thereby element 32 to rotate through an arcuate distance of at least 270 so that element 32 may move between a dentifrice-dispensing position adjacent to bristles 18 and a stored position within a recess 38 on the side of head 20 opposite the side having bristles 18. Recess 38, shown in FIG. 7, communicates with region 26 so that element 32 automatically moves thereinto as tube 36 is rotated relative to stem 22.

The end of stem 22 remote from head 20 is enlarged and provided with an annular skirt 40 defining a concavity 42 for receiving a cap 44 integral with or otherwise attached to the proximal end of tube 36. Cap 44 has a central hole 46 therethrough and a number of grooves 48 on the inner surface thereof which mate with corresponding ribs 50 on the convex end 52 of a cartridge 54 defining source 14. Thus, cap 44 and cartridge 54 may rotate as a unit and, since dispenser 16 is coupled to cap 44 through tube 36, dispenser 16 and cartridge 54 are thereby interconnected for rotation together. For purposes of illustration element 32 is joined in any suitable manner at junction 55 to tube 36 (FIG. 1).

Cartridge 54 has an annular band 56 which is normally complementally received and in slidable engagement within an annular groove 58 on the inner surface of skirt 40. Thus, cartridge 54 is rotatable with respect to stem 22 and is capable of rotating element 32 therewith.

Skirt 40 is yieldable to a certain extent to permit separation of stem 22 from cartridge 54. In the alternative, band 56 could be resilient to permit this separation. In either case, skirt 40 will snap into place on cartridge 54 and will be firmly held in such a position.

Cartridge 54 is normally provided with a quantity of dentifrice 60 which may be, as shown in FIG. 1, in paste form. A piston 62 within cartridge 54 forces dentifrice 60 through the tubular discharge outlet 64 telescopically received within the proximal end of tube 56. Movement of piston 62 is effected by a tubular plunger 66 whose end edge is received within an annular groove 68 in the outer face 70 of piston 62. Plunger 66 is disposed within a cylindrical housing 72 having a coil spring 74 therein surrounding plunger 66. Piston 62 has an inner face 75 which is complemental to the inner surface of end 52 to assure that all of the dentifrice may be dispensed from cartridge 54.

Housing 72, shown in FIG. 1, is closed at its outer end and has a pair of flange segments 76 at its inner end, segments 76 defining a pair of notches 78 which receive a corresponding pair of ears 80 on the outer end of cartridge 54. A retainer ring 82 is disposed between the inner faces of segments 76 and the proximal end of spring 74 and is biased by the latter against segments 76. Thus, to interconnect cartridge 54 and housing 72, the end of the cartridge is inserted in the proximal end of housing 72 with ears 80 in alignment with notches 78. Inward pressure applied to cartridge 54 will cause spring 74 to be further compressed inasmuch as ears 80 will be in engagement with ring 82. After the ears pass into housing 72, cartridge 54 is rotated relative thereto until ears 80 engage the inner faces of corresponding segments 76.

The end of plunger 66 will be received within groove 68 as cartridge 54 is coupled with housing 72. Essentially, piston 62 is coupled to plunger 66 inasmuch as the end of the latter is press fitted into groove 68. Thus, piston 62 will, when not being used to force dentifrice through discharge outlet 64, be biased outwardly of cartridge 54. In this manner, dentifrice will only be forced toward dispenser 16 when manual pressure is exerted on housing 72 and thereby piston 62.

In use, stem 22 is connected to cartridge 54 by inserting end 52 within cap 44 carried by stem 22 within skirt 40. By virtue of this connection, element 32 is coupled with cartridge 54 and will rotate with the same.

Cartridge 54 is then rotated relative to stem 22 until element 32 is in the dentifrice-dispensing position in FIG. 6. Manual pressure is then exerted on housing 72 to force dentifrice from cartridge 54, through tube 36, element 32, and finally through ports 34 onto bristles 18. Since ports 34 are in relatively close proximity to the bristles, all of the dentifrice dispensed from element 32 will be deposited on bristles 18 and will be cleanly separated from the structure defining ports 34 by the lateral movement of element 32 as it rotates away from the bristles. There will therefore be no waste of dentifrice and, since the amount deposited can be controlled and readily observed, dentifrice can be delivered in any desired quantity.

After delivery of dentifrice to bristles 18, element 32 is rotated by manually rotating cartridge 54 relative to stem 22. Element 32 is rotated through an arcuate distance 4. of at least 270 so that it will move into recess 38 as shown in FIG. 7. At this location, element 32 is' out of the way and will not interfere with brushing of the teeth which follows the delivery of dentifrice to bristles 18. A pair of spaced, yieldable pins 81 project outwardly from the innermost surface of the groove-and serve as fasteners to releasably hold element 32 within recess 38.

After the teeth have been brushed, device 10 may be stored as a complete unit in a suitable place, such as a medicine cabinet or the like or stem 22 may be separated from cartridge 54 and hung in a rack or other similar structure until it is desired again to brush the teeth. A preferred way of storing toothbrush unit 12 is to separate it from cartridge 54, to separate cartridge 54 from housing 72, and then to insert the head end of unit 12 into the open end of plunger 66. Stem 22 has an annular shoulder 83 which will engage the proximal end edge of plunger 66 and thereby limit the inward travel of unit 12. Skirt 40 will thus remain outside of plunger 66 and permit unit 12 to be manually grasped for removal therefrom. Housing 72has a plurality of rings 87 on its outer surface, the rings being flattened at 85 (FIG. 5 so that housing 72 can rest on its side in a medicine cabinet or the like With unit 12 within plunger 66. It is noted that rings 87 facilitate handling the housing during brushing of the teeth, when separating the housing from the cartridge and during rotation of cartridge 54 relative to stem 22.

If device 10 is for family use a rack adapted to be disposed on a supporting surface or to be mounted on a wall, will be provided to releasably hold stem 22 and cartridge 54 having housing 72 coupled thereto. This arrangement is especially advantageous where each member of the family has a toothbrush unit 12. A single source 14 will sufiice for all of such units 12 inasmuch as stems 22 of the units may be readly coupled to and removed from cartridge 54. Children as well as adults will find no difficulty in coupling their toothbrush units 12 to source 14. Children especially will derive a certain measure of delight in using device 10 so that their interest in periodically brushing their teeth will be favorably stimulated.

Cartridge 54 may be disposable after its supply of dentifrice has been depleted. To this end, cartridge 54 will be commercially available in packaged form from drugstores or the like wherein piston 62 will form an integral part. In the alternative, cartridge 54 may be refilled and use over and over again since piston 62 is removable and dentifrice may be supplied to cartridge 54 from conventional containers. In either case, plunger 66 and housing 72 are reusable and need not be replaced if cartridge 54 is replaced.

It is clear that any suitable materials may be used to construct the various parts of device 10. For instance, toothbrush unit 12 may be formed from plastic material in a molding process wherein stem 22 is made tubular and recess 38 is formed with pins 81 therein. Device 10 may be merchandised in kit form since it may be assembled without requiring special skill.

Device 10 thus provides a self-contained toothbrushing assembly which has a minimum of parts, is simple and rugged in construction and requires no special skill to use. The dispensing portion of the device will not interfere with the toothbrushing operation and all parts can be easily cleaned so that device 10 may be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser comprising: a toothbrush unit having a tubular stem and a head rigid to said stem, said head having a pair of opposed sides and provided with a plurality of bristles projecting laterally from one of said sides; a dentifrice 'dispenser; means rotatably mounting said dispenser on said stem for movement into and out of a position adjacent to and in dentifrice-dispensing relationship with said bristles with said dispenser being in fluid communication with said stern; a dentifrice-containing cartridge having a discharge outlet at one end thereof and means at its opposite end for forcing dentifrice through said discharge outlet; and means mounting said cartridge on said stem with said discharge outlet in fluid communication therewith, whereby dentifrice may be dispensed onto said bristles when said dispenser is in said position and as dentifrice is forced out of said cartridge through said discharge outlet by said forcing means.

2. A combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cartridge is rotatably mounted on said stem and connected to said dispenser, whereby the dispenser is moved into and out of said position in response to the rotation of said cartridge relative to said stem.

3. A combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cartridge has a ring at said one end thereof, said stem having an annular, yieldable skirt provided with an annular recess on its inner surface, said ring being complementally received within said recess and movable circumferentially thereof, whereby said cartridge is removably and rotatably mounted on said stem, and including means releasably interconnecting said dispenser and said cartridge, whereby the dispenser rotates with the cartridge.

4. A combination toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said forcing means includes a plunger, means removably securing the plunger to said cartridge, and means biasing the plunger outwardly of the cartridge.

5. A toothbrush assembly comprising: a toothbrush unit provided with a stern and a head having bristles thereon; a dentifrice dispenser shiftably mounted on said unit for movement into and out of a position adjacent to and in dentifrice-dispensing relationship with said bristles; said dispenser being mounted on said stem for rotation with respect to said head, said dispenser being movable between said position and a location adjacent to one side of said head; and means coupled with said dispenser for connecting the same to a source of dentifrice, whereby a quantity of dentifrice may be dispensed onto said bristles when said dispenser is in said position.

6. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said dispenser is mounted for rotation on said unit, said head having a pair of opposed sides, said bristles projecting laterally from one of said sides, the other side having a recess therein, said dispenser being movable from said position into said recess for disposition therein as said unit is being used.

7. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said toothbrush unit includes a tubular stem and wherein is provided dispenser mounting means comprising a tube within said stern and in fluid coupled relationship to said dispenser, said connecting means including a coupling member having an opening coupled with said tube and adapted to be coupled with said source.

8. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said toothbrush unit includes a stern having a passage therethrough, said dispenser being rotatably mounted on said stem and in fluid communication with one end of said passage, said connecting means including a cap coupled with said stern and having an opening therethrough communicating with the opposite end of said passage, said cap adapted to be coupled to said source.

S. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said toothbrush unit includes a tubular stem secured at one end to said head, said dispenser including a tube rotatably mounted within said stem and an L-shaped tubular element coupled to one end of said tube, said head and said stem having spaced, adjacent surfaces defining an open region, the junction of said tube and said element being disposed in said region, said surface being disposed to permit said element to move through an arcuate distance of at least 180 from said position to a stand-by location, said connecting means being coupled to the opposite end of said tube.

10. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said unit includes a stem having an outer end provided with an arcuate skirt, said skirt having means for rotatably mounting the same on a tube defining said dentifrice source.

11. A toothbrush assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein is provided a tubular cartridge having a discharge outlet at one end thereof and adapted to contain a quantity of dentifrice, and means at the opposite end of the cartridge for forcing dentifrice through said discharge outlet, said cartridge defining said dentifrice source, said unit having a tubular stem rotatably mounted on said cartridge, said connecting means including a tube extending through said stem and coupled to said cartridge in fluid communication with said discharge outlet, Whereby rotation of said cartridge relative to said unit will cause said dispenser to move into and out of said position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,859,108 5/1932 Nadoolman 401 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. R. PESHOCK, Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION TOOTHBRUSH AND A DENTIFRICE DISPENSER COMPRISING: A TOOTHBRUSH UNIT HAVING A TUBULAR STEM AND A HEAD RIGID TO SAID STEM, SAID HEAD HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDES AND PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF BRISTLES PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM ONE OF SAID SIDES; A DENTIFRICE DISPENSER; MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID DISPENSER ON SAID STEM FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF A POSITION ADJACENT TO AND IN DENTIFICE-DISPENSING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID BRISTLES WITH SAID DISPENSER BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID STEM; A DENTIFICE-CONTAINING CARTRIDGE HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET AT ONE END THEREOF AND MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE END FOR FORCING DENTIFRICE THROUGH SAID STEM OUTLET; AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID CARTRIDGE ON SAID STEM WITH SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET IN FLUID COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, WHEREBY DENTIFRICE MAY BE DISPENSED ONTO SAID BRISTLES WHEN SAID DISPENSER IS IN SAID POSITION AND AS DENTIFRICE IS FORCED OUT OF SAID CARTRIDGE THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET BY SAID FORCING MEANS. 